A Vibroacoustic Tactile Device

The present invention relates to a load bearing vibroacoustic tactile device and particularly a vibroacoustic tactile device for generating and delivering a vibroacoustic signal to be experienced audibly and directly through the felt sense of a human body.

Vibroacoustic stimulation (VAS) involves transmitting low frequency vibrations into a human body. An example of an application of VAS is Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT) which has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in United States of America, for increasing circulation, pain relief and increasing mobility. It is also been found to be an effective tool for encouraging relaxation and meditation and believed to have other therapeutic affects which are currently being researched. Additionally, the vibroacoustic effect has also been found to be an effective anchor for meditation.

Patent Document No. EP0244508A2 describes a device having a closed box with a sound opening in which is arranged a loudspeaker, of the coned type. The loudspeaker is directed towards a part of a human body lying on the closed box. Upholstery is disposed between the box and the human body in the location of the loudspeaker. Low frequency signals are supplied to the loudspeaker. The device also has external loudspeakers for playing music. The low frequency signals are influenced in step with the music.

Known vibroacoustic therapy devices, such as described in EP0244508A2, are disadvantaged in that they typically use coned audio speakers to transmit at a limited band of low frequency signal and directionally onto an isolated part of the human body. Such devices are also disadvantaged in that they also have relatively large, heavy, and cumbersome structures which are not of a portable structure and have a limited utility, solely for use as vibroacoustic therapy devices.

It is therefore desirable in the industry for there to be a relatively inexpensive, lightweight and portable vibroacoustic stimulation (VAS) device which is capable of transmitting low frequency signals uniformly to the whole of the human body for therapeutic uses and a full range of frequencies fir wider applications such as leisure, relaxation and general wellbeing.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vibroacoustic tactile device comprising at least one vibroacoustic tactile panel, the, or each, vibroacoustic tactile panel comprising a vibroacoustic generating layer, a tactile surface, and a vibroacoustic transmission layer, wherein the vibroacoustic transmission layer is disposed between the vibroacoustic generating layer and the tactile surface, and wherein the vibroacoustic tactile device further comprises a signal delivery module operable to deliver an acoustic signal to the vibroacoustic generating layer and wherein the vibroacoustic generating layer is operable to generate a vibroacoustic signal incident on the vibroacoustic transmission layer and the vibroacoustic transmission layer is operable to transmit the vibroacoustic signal to the tactile surface.

The vibroacoustic generating layer advantageously comprises a plurality of supports for supporting the vibroacoustic transmission layer and arranged to advantageously define regions of enclosed space within the vibroacoustic generating layer and underlying the vibroacoustic transmission layer.

The vibroacoustic generating layer advantageously comprises a closed foam material. The closed foam material may comprise Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). Alternatively, or additionally, the closed foam material may comprise Expanded Polypropylene (EPP). The closed foam material may be formed of a suitable density to support the vibroacoustic transmission layer but also provide sufficient movement to not inhibit free movement of the vibroacoustic transmission layer.

The vibroacoustic tactile device advantageously further comprises one or more vibroacoustic tactile transducers disposed in the vibroacoustic generating layer and operable to receive an acoustic signal from the signal delivery module, generate a vibroacoustic signal, and transmit the generated vibroacoustic signal onto the vibroacoustic transmission layer. The one or more vibroacoustic tactile transducers is advantageously operable within the frequency range of 20 Hz to 200 Hz.

The vibroacoustic tactile device advantageously further comprises at least one vibroacoustic exciter, wherein the at least one vibroacoustic exciter is disposed in the vibroacoustic generating layer and advantageously operable to receive an acoustic signal from the signal delivery module, generate a vibroacoustic signal and transmit the generated vibroacoustic signal onto the vibroacoustic transmission layer. The at least one vibroacoustic exciter is advantageously operable within the frequency range 200 Hz to 20 KHz.

The signal delivery module advantageously comprises a signal amplifier.

The vibroacoustic transmission layer advantageously comprises a soundboard formed from a wooden material.

The tactile surface is advantageously formed from a Thermo Elastomer (TPE) material or other similar material capable of providing a similar function.

The vibroacoustic tactile device advantageously comprises a plurality of vibroacoustic tactile panels. Each vibroacoustic tactile panel is advantageously detachably attachable to an adjacent panel and may be arrangeable relative to each other depending on the application, such as, for example, therapy, meditation, fitness, lounger chair and wall panels.

Each vibroacoustic tactile panel is advantageously hingedly attached to an adjacent one of the plurality of vibroacoustic tactile panels.

The vibroacoustic tactile device is advantageously operable to support the body of a human and transmit a vibroacoustic signal onto a said human body through the tactile surface.

The one or more vibroacoustic tactile transducers is advantageously disposed at predetermined regions of the vibroacoustic transmission layer to cause said vibroacoustic signal to be more concentrated at one or more regions of the tactile surface corresponding with predetermined portions of the body of said human supported on the tactile surface.

One or more vibroacoustic exciters is advantageously disposed at a predetermined region of the vibroacoustic transmission layer to cause said vibroacoustic signal to be more concentrated at one or more regions of the tactile surface corresponding with the head of the body of said human supported on the tactile surface.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided vibroacoustic tactile system comprising a plurality of vibroacoustic tactile devices according to the first aspect of the present invention.

The plurality of vibroacoustic tactile devices are advantageously responsive to a common vibration signal.

The plurality of vibroacoustic tactile devices are advantageously remotely controlled.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of transmitting a vibroacoustic signal onto a human body, the method comprising: providing a vibroacoustic tactile device, according to the first aspect of the present invention; disposing at least part of said human body on the tactile surface; providing an acoustic signal to the signal delivery module; actuating the signal delivery module to generate an acoustic signal in the vibroacoustic generating layer; transducing the acoustic signal into a vibroacoustic signal incident on the vibroacoustic transmission layer; and transmitting the vibroacoustic signal to the tactile surface.

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The vibroacoustic tactile device and parts thereof are not necessarily to scale and the parts may just be representative of components or other described entities.

Referring to, according to an embodiment of the present invention a vibroacoustic tactile devicecomprises a first vibroacoustic tactile panel,A and a second vibroacoustic tactile panelB. Each vibroacoustic tactile panel,A andB, comprise a base layer,A andB, and a top layer,A andB, which functions to provide tactile surfacesA andB. The base layers,A andB, comprise durable housingsA andB formed from, for example, a plastics material. The vibroacoustic tactile panels,A andB are attached to each other in a hinged arrangementand can be folded relative to each other. In this embodiment, in which there are two vibroacoustic tactile panels,A andB, the first vibroacoustic tactile panelA has a relatively larger surface area of tactile surfaceA and the second vibroacoustic tactile panelB has a relatively smaller surface area of tactile surfaceB.

When used as a support or bed for a human body, the vibroacoustic tactile panelA having a relatively larger surface area of tactile surfaceA is operable to support the body of a human and the second vibroacoustic tactile panelB, having a relatively smaller surface area of tactile surfaceB, is operable to support the head of a human. Each panel may have an approximately equal weight-bearing capability but may differ in the provision of low or higher frequency effects dependent on the type of vibroacoustic exciters and vibroacoustic tactile transducers utilised in the vibroacoustic tactile device.

The housings,A andB, comprise a plurality of carrying handles, shown asA,B,C andD, on one side of the housing. The opposing side of the housinghas corresponding handles but are not shown in. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may have different numbers of handles arranged on the housing in different configurations. Referring to, the handlesA,B,C andD are formed as socketsA,B,C andD in the wall of the housing. Corresponding handle plugsA,B,C andD are dimensioned and shaped to provide a friction fit with the corresponding socketsA,B,C andD. With the handle plugsA,B,C andD inserted in the socketsA,B,C andD the external surface of the wall of the housing is substantially uninterrupted and planar.

Disposed in the base layer is a signal delivery modulehaving an amplifier operable to receive an audio signal.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown in the drawings), the vibroacoustic tactile device may comprise a single vibroacoustic tactile panel. The single vibroacoustic tactile panel having a base layer and a top layer, which functions to provide a tactile surface. The single vibroacoustic tactile panel has similar features and operates in the same way as the vibroacoustic tactile device, of, except it cannot be folded.

Referring to, an alternative embodiment of a vibroacoustic tactile device, according to the present invention, is similar to the embodiment of. However, the embodiment ofcomprises three vibroacoustic tactile panels,A,B andC. Each vibroacoustic tactile panel,A,B andC, comprises a base layer,A,B andC, and a top layerA,B andC, which function to provide a tactile surfacesA,B andC. Each of the base layers,A,B andC, comprise durable housings,A,B andC, formed from, for example, a plastics material. The vibroacoustic tactile panels,A,B andC are attached in series in a hinged arrangementsA andB.

The top layersA,B andC may be formed from, for example, a Thermo Elastomer (TPE) material or similar material.

A plurality of carrying handles, shown asA,B,C andD, on one side of the housingsA,B andC. The opposing side of the housings,A,B andC, have corresponding handles but are not shown in. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may have different numbers of handles arranged on the housing in different configurations. The handlesA,B,C andD are the same as those described in relation to the first embodiment, with reference to.

An audio signal modulehaving an amplifier operable to receive an audio signal is disposed in one of the vibroacoustic tactile panel,A,B andC.

Referring also tothe base layers,A,B andC, of each of the vibroacoustic tactile panels,A,B andC, comprise the housingsA,B andC. Each of the housingsA,B andC has a cavity in which vibroacoustic generating layers,A,B andC, are disposed respectively. One of the vibroacoustic generating layers may be divided into two separate sub-vibroacoustic generating layersAandA, disposed to lie next to each other in the housingA.

The vibroacoustic generating layers,AandA,B andC, are formed from a closed foam material, such as, for example, Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA).

Each of the vibroacoustic generating layers,AandA,B andC, has a plurality of supportsspaced apart relative to each other to define regions of spacewhen the vibroacoustic tactile device is in an assembled state.

Each of the vibroacoustic generating layersAandAfurther comprise vibroacoustic exciter housing spacesAandA, respectively, formed within the supports. Each of the vibroacoustic generating layersB andC further comprise a vibroacoustic tactile transducer housing spacesB andC, respectively, formed within the supports.

Vibroacoustic generating layerB additionally comprises a signal delivery module housing spaceformed within the supports.

Referring also to, vibroacoustic transmission layersA,A,B andC are disposed to overlie the vibroacoustic generating layersA,A,B andC, respectively, supported on the supportsto form enclosed vibroacoustic transmission spaces. The vibroacoustic transmission layersA,A,B andC may be formed of a wooden material, such as, for example, plywood sheets which function as a sound/vibroacoustic board. The vibroacoustic transmission layersA,A,B andC are preferably arranged and operable to float on the vibroacoustic generating layersA,A,B andC, respectively, and act as vibroacoustic floating supports layers.

Suitable material is attached to adjacent vibroacoustic tactile panels,A,B andC and function as hingesA andB.

Referring in particular to, a signal delivery moduleis disposed in the signal delivery module housing spaceof the vibroacoustic generating layerB. The signal delivery modulepreferably comprises an amplifier.

Vibroacoustic exciters,A andB are disposed in the housing spacesAandA, respectively.

Vibroacoustic tactile transducers,A andB, are disposed in the vibroacoustic tactile transducer housing spacesB andC, respectively.

The vibroacoustic exciters,A andB, are electrically connected to vibroacoustic tactile transducersA, through electrical connections,A andB, respectively.

Vibroacoustic tactile transducerA is electrically connected to vibroacoustic tactile transducersB through electrical connection.

The vibroacoustic tactile transducers,A andB, are electrically connected to signal delivery modulethrough electrical connectionwhich is connected to electrical connectionat a T-junction.

The vibroacoustic exciters,A andB, are preferable operable within the frequency range 200 Hz to 20 KHz.

The vibroacoustic tactile transducers,A andB, are preferably operable within the frequency range of 20 Hz to 200 Hz.

It will be appreciated by the skilled person in the art that the components of the vibroacoustic tactile device, as described herein, may be differently arranged and/or formed within the scope of the present invention, as claimed.

In use, the signal delivery moduleis activated to generate an acoustic signal. The acoustic signal is transmitted from the signal delivery modulethrough the electrical connectionsand, to activate the vibroacoustic tactile transducers,A andB, which transmit a tactile vibroacoustic signal in the vibroacoustic generating layers,B andC, respectively, within the frequency range 20 Hz to 200 Hz. The tactile vibroacoustic transducer generated signal is dissipated from the vibroacoustic tactile transducers,A andB, through the enclosed vibroacoustic transmission space, to provide a uniformly distributed tactile vibroacoustic signal throughout the vibroacoustic generating layers,B andC, respectively.

The uniformly distributed tactile vibroacoustic signal in the enclosed vibroacoustic transmission spaceis incident uniformly on the vibroacoustic transmission layersB andC. The uniformly distributed tactile vibroacoustic signal is transmitted through the vibroacoustic transmission layersB andC and onto the tactile surfacesB andC, respectively, such that the uniformly distributed tactile vibroacoustic signal can be felt on the tactile surfacesB andC, at a frequency within the range of 20 Hz to 200 Hz.